Cultural venues leap on whodunit wagon

For example, players were asked to answer questions about geological exhibits in the Nanjing Tangshan National Geological Park Museum, while in the murder game set up by the Luoyang Museum of Ancient Tombs, players had to be able to recite classical Chinese poetry correctly in exchange for clues, according to online posts.

"Murder role-playing games in museums are a good combination of historical elements and entertainment," says Xiang Yue, a postgraduate student in Shanghai, who participated in a game called Awakened Brewmaster at the Qingdao Beer Museum last year.

"If the game is set up cleverly, players can enjoy themselves while they walk around and learn about the museum, which gives them a stronger desire to explore more," she adds.

Wu says she feels similarly. "During the game, I was even out of breath because I was walking around the entire hall looking for clues. I was constantly rushing because of the limited time we had," she says. "But by interacting with the NPCs (non-player characters) while playing a game that was closely connected to the exhibits, I learned a lot."

Zhang Zheng, an associate professor of cultural and creative industries at Tsinghua University, says that participating in murder mysteries that incorporate stories based on the museum's exhibits can create a more immersive experience for museumgoers than a standard visit to an exhibition. "This added emotional immersion also enhances understanding of the artifacts and cultures on display," Zhang adds.